[ad_1]
Two Plymouth business women have joined forces to open a sparkling new shop in the heart of Plymouth’s Barbican. My Favourite Glass and Sam Birch Jewellery are operating out of the former bridalwear unit on Southside Street having transformed the space in just three days.
Jennifer McAteer and Sam Birch operated separate businesses within The House that Jack Built, just across the road, before combining in one unit. When they saw a larger shop was available they jumped at the chance to relocate.
The new premises give them the opportunity to make the jewellery and the hand-painted glass gifts on site. Jennifer said: “We had been looking for somewhere larger, but they don’t come up often down here.
“When we saw this we decided to go for it and we now have more space. The back of the shop is huge, we hope to do workshops, Sam is already running jewellery workshops.”
For Jennifer and Sam the Barbican holds a special significance. During the 1990s Jennifer performed regularly in the waterfront area’s pubs with her afro jazz funk band E-type. Sam’s grandfather lived on the Barbican and she spent many happy times in its cobbled streets as a child.
Jennifer said My Perfect Glass was started three years ago during the height of Covid pandemic. She had been working as a children’s party entertainer but work stopped when lockdowns were announced.
“I decided to try something else,” she said. “I had done a bit of glass painting as a hobby and was able to adapt my skills from face painting to glassware. It’s been more successful than the party business.”
The business sells a range of painted products, including gin and wine glasses. People can even choose something they would like to see painted, such as the portrait of a pet, and have it placed on some glassware.
Sam had worked as a florist before passing a course in silver jewellery making at night school. She makes some of her bespoke pieces from glass scavenged on nearby beaches.
The two women worked alongside a team of friends and family members to paint and shopfit the new store. They closed in The House that Jack Built on June 24 and had the new store opened on June 28.
Jennifer said The Barbican was a “brilliant” spot for a retail business. She said: “It’s got its quiet times but the weekends make up for it and the holidays, like Easter, Christmas and the half-terms, are amazing. And the new shop is fantastic.”
[ad_2]
Source link